Jailed on a Ten-Word Telegram: A New Arrival Fights an Arson Charge From Manitoba

Seattle, June 28, 1894.

To the Editor: I rely upon the well-known American sense of fair play for your permission to correct, through your paper, an erroneous impression arising apparently from misapprehension of my attorney's statements as reported in your issue of this date under the title, 'Ireland is free.'

Justice to myself and family will not permit me to rest quietly under the imputations attaching to the treatment inflicted upon me at the instance of utterly irresponsible parties in the province of Manitoba. For more than ten years I occupied a responsible position in the service of the Massey-Harris Company, Limited, the largest agricultural implement business concern in Canada, and at all times enjoyed the utmost confidence and respect of every officer and member thereof, as well as of all good people of Winnipeg, the business headquarters of said company in Manitoba.

In May, 1893, at the earnest solicitation of one Richard Sylvester, of the firm of Sylvester Bros., dealers in agricultural implements, and upon their offer of superior inducements in the way of salary, I entered the service of said firm as manager at Brandon, Manitoba. Shortly thereafter I discovered that Richard Sylvester, the principal member of said firm, was captious and disagreeable in his relations with the manager, and had during the four years previous had five different managers, all reasonably well qualified, the last of whom before myself he had arrested upon a criminal charge, which, upon hearing, proved frivolous and was dismissed upon the evidence of the prosecution.

I remained in this position until May 15 last. During my term of service, namely, at about 3 o'clock on the morning of February 9, 1894, the warehouse containing the machinery took fire in some unknown way and was, together with the machinery therein, consumed. I was at the time at my home with my family, where I had been continuously since 6 o'clock the evening before, and was aroused by the alarm of fire.

I immediately telegraphed the intelligence to Sylvester Bros. at their headquarters in Ontario, and on the arrival of Mr. Richard Sylvester I, in conjunction with him, did all possible to ascertain the cause of the fire. The insurance companies paid the policies on the property, amounting to nearly the value thereof, without question.

After the fire I remained in their service for more than three months, until the middle of May, 1894, at which time, Mr. Richard Sylvester having informed me that they could not longer pay me the salary agreed upon, I quit their service. I then decided to remove to the Puget Sound country and engage in business if the opportunities justified it, and accordingly closed up my affairs at Brandon deliberately and leisurely, announcing my intention to depart openly and generally, and after public advertisement sold my effects at public auction, excepting my wife's piano and a few household effects, which I shipped. To the knowledge of all our friends and acquaintances I embarked with my wife and children for this region.

The first intimation I ever had that the least breath of suspicion attached to me in connection with the fire mentioned was on the morning after my arrival, when I was taken into custody at the residence of my brother-in-law, Mr. W. H. McCollough, and thence conveyed to Seattle and incarcerated in the county jail in company with convicted criminals of every hue and cast of character.

I took with me from the Massey-Harris Company and the city of Winnipeg the highest esteem and best wishes of all connected with that company and all good citizens of that city, and throughout my entire life I have never suffered the least reduction upon my character for honorable manhood and business integrity. I came to this region with that untarnished character and reputation for business integrity, fully intending to establish myself in business and relying mainly upon my social standing and business reputation for my ability to do so. I am met at the threshold of my enterprise with this humiliating and degrading indignity, and my wife and little children are put to shame and grief without any other authority or justification in law or fact than the ten-word telegram of an irresponsible country subordinate in Manitoba signing himself 'Government Detective,' and acting, as I am informed, in the employ of said Richard Sylvester. I am confronted with this calumny at my entrance into the home of my adoption.

I earnestly request that in justice to myself and family you will give to this the same publicity that the proceedings against me have received, and also to the fact that, while I do not propose to submit tamely to irregular, unwarrantable and unjustifiable apprehension or extradition, I have no fear of lawful proceedings and invite the most searching investigation, fully intending to remain here within easy reach of any and all lawful process, and that it is my well-considered and deliberate determination to seek by all lawful means redress for the injury and indignities which have been inflicted upon me, and full vindication of my character and good reputation.

I trust that this request is no imposition upon your sense of common fairness and justice.

CHARLES F. IRELAND.